SARLL: IT'S VERY, VERY HARD TO TAKE

Darren Sarll admits that Saturday’s 1-0 defeat at Carlisle is a tough pill to swallow after Stevenage had the better of the game for large parts without making it count.

The home side took the lead during their best spell of the game, at the start of the second half and Sarll says that Boro should have taken a lead into the break.

“For 20 minutes in the second half we seemed to struggle to replicate the good work we did in the first half. We struggled to impose ourselves defensively, physically especially against Ibehre and Wyke.

“I thought we struggled in that 20 minutes but once we dealt with that I thought the game was pretty much dominated by ourselves. Especially first half - I thought we were great first half, came in very happy at half-time, very disappointed at the same time that we hadn’t taken one of our numerous chances.”

Despite the defeat, Sarll takes the positives from the performance and says that the players gave 100%.

"I believe that we fought hard today. We didn’t get that win we wanted or the objective wasn’t achieved in terms of the win or some sort of adding to the points for us, but no-one can say that my players didn’t absolutely give their all for the football club today.

“I was delighted with that but know that the list of improvements has just got a little bit longer."

Having won the last two games in a row, Sarll says the set-back has left the players hugely disappointed.

“Of course they are. We have had the luxury of the most unbelievable feeling on a Saturday at 5 o’clock for two games in a row and then you get that emotion in you and it is very, very hard to take.

“I think it is important that the public and the supporters understand that they are that disappointed because they know how well they have played here, at a really tricky place.”

Sign into Boro Player HD for full post-match reaction from both Sarll and Fraser Franks.